USA - Oden to make jump to NBA

COLUMBUS (NCAA) - Team USA prospect Greg Oden announced on Friday that he is to leave Ohio State after one season and head to the NBA, where he almost certainly will be the top pick in the draft on June 28.

The 7ft teenager was joined by freshman teammates Mike Conley Jr and Daequan Cook, who also announced they would enter the draft. Together, the trio led Ohio State to its first appearance in the national championship game in 45 years.

Oden would have been the top pick in the 2006 NBA draft had the league not passed a rule preventing players from entering directly out of high school. He plans to hire an agent, wiping out his remaining three years of college eligibility.

"This is a very tough decision for me," Oden said in a statement released by the school. "I love OSU and love being a Buckeye, but I also have a great opportunity to take my game to the next level and compete with the best players in the world."

Oden said he talked about his options with family, friends and Buckeyes coach Thad Matta. As the top overall pick, he would receive a two-year contract worth upwards of $10 million with two one-year options at increases.

A highly touted player since his high school days in Indianapolis, the 19-year-old Oden overcame offseason wrist surgery to average a team-leading 15.7 points and 9.6 rebounds in 32 games.

Even before he arrived at college last summer, Oden was invited to practice sessions with Team USA, who were then preparing for the FIBA World Championship.

Ohio State lost to Florida in the title game, where Oden had 25 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks against a front line led by Al Horford and Joakim Noah, who also have declared for the draft and are considered lottery picks.

Oden was runner-up to fellow freshman Kevin Durant of Texas for the Wooden Award. Durant declared for the draft last week and likely will be the second overall pick. Unlike Oden, Conley and Cook will not hire agents, allowing them to retain their eligibility should they withdraw from the draft.

A high school teammate of Oden's, Conley's stock rose during Ohio State's run through the NCAA Tournament as he averaged 16.0 points and 4.8 assists. The 6ft 1in, 180-pound point guard has tremendous quickness.

"This has been an extremely exciting and challenging process for me," said Conley, the son of Olympic long jumper Mike Conley who is projected as a lottery pick. "It is my lifelong dream to play in the NBA."

The top reserve for the Buckeyes, the 6ft 5in Cook averaged 9.8 points on 45 percent shooting in 39 games.

FIBA